MNRE Showcases India’s Hydrogen Startup Ecosystem

21 Apr 2026 CW Team

The cohort included five electrolyser startups specialising in electrolysers and stack components, two hydrogen production ventures, one fuel cell company and one hydrogen applications developer. There was a safety startup showcasing a MEMS-based sensor and two drone startups exploring hydrogen integration for aerial platforms. Three startups presented hydrogen cooking solutions, one firm focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning for hydrogen systems and two companies worked on bio-hydrogen pathways.

As per the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), 249 startups were active in the hydrogen area as of September 2025. MNRE launched a scheme for New and Novel Uses of Hydrogen Production and Applications last year under which Part B of the scheme earmarked Rs. 1 bn for startup funding for pilot projects, with a maximum grant of Rs. 50 mn per startup. Following the scheme launch, the National Institute of Solar Energy issued a call for proposals in September 2025 and received 111 applications, of which 58 were shortlisted for presentation before the Project Appraisal Committee; results will be declared in the coming weeks.

Principal Scientific Adviser Professor Ajay Sood attended and interacted with startup founders, and other dignitaries included MNRE Secretary Santosh Sarangi, Scientific Secretary in the PSA Office Dr Parvinder Maini and NGHM Director Abhay Bakre. The ministry previously organised a similar startup expo as part of the R and D Conference at Dr Ambedkar Centre in New Delhi where more than 25 startups participated and this event acted as a successor. The exhibition was intended to foster connections between founders, investors, regulators and researchers and to accelerate deployment and commercialisation of green hydrogen technologies.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) organised a one-day Hydrogen Startup Exhibition to promote the country’s growing hydrogen startup ecosystem. The exhibition brought together 18 startups working across the green hydrogen value chain, including electrolyser technologies, fuel cell applications, biomass-to-hydrogen production and digital solutions for hydrogen systems. The participating companies demonstrated technologies and products and engaged with stakeholders from government, industry and the research community. The cohort included five electrolyser startups specialising in electrolysers and stack components, two hydrogen production ventures, one fuel cell company and one hydrogen applications developer. There was a safety startup showcasing a MEMS-based sensor and two drone startups exploring hydrogen integration for aerial platforms. Three startups presented hydrogen cooking solutions, one firm focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning for hydrogen systems and two companies worked on bio-hydrogen pathways. As per the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), 249 startups were active in the hydrogen area as of September 2025. MNRE launched a scheme for New and Novel Uses of Hydrogen Production and Applications last year under which Part B of the scheme earmarked Rs. 1 bn for startup funding for pilot projects, with a maximum grant of Rs. 50 mn per startup. Following the scheme launch, the National Institute of Solar Energy issued a call for proposals in September 2025 and received 111 applications, of which 58 were shortlisted for presentation before the Project Appraisal Committee; results will be declared in the coming weeks. Principal Scientific Adviser Professor Ajay Sood attended and interacted with startup founders, and other dignitaries included MNRE Secretary Santosh Sarangi, Scientific Secretary in the PSA Office Dr Parvinder Maini and NGHM Director Abhay Bakre. The ministry previously organised a similar startup expo as part of the R and D Conference at Dr Ambedkar Centre in New Delhi where more than 25 startups participated and this event acted as a successor. The exhibition was intended to foster connections between founders, investors, regulators and researchers and to accelerate deployment and commercialisation of green hydrogen technologies.

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